Long before the natural food movement gained popularity, Virginia's Edna Lewis (1916–2006) championed purity of ingredients, regional cuisine, and the importance of bringing food directly from the farm to the table. She was a chef when female chefs—let alone African American female chefs—were few and far between, and she received many awards for her work. The author of Sugar Pie and Jelly Roll combines a lyrical text for readers 4 to 8 with sunny watercolor illustrations, to trace the childhood roots of Edna's appreciation for the bounties of nature. The story follows Edna from early spring through the growing season to a family dinner celebrating a successful harvest. Folk rhymes, sayings, and songs about food are sprinkled throughout the text, and five kid-friendly recipes and an author's note about Edna's life are included at the end.